Kia Soul EV (2016) recall: Unintended movement risk
Kia is recalling 2015-2016 Soul EVs due to potential unintended movement when shifting to Park before stopping. Owners must update software to prevent crashes.
Use caution until it’s fixed
Unintended vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash.
What happened, in plain English
Kia is recalling certain 2015-2016 Soul EV vehicles because shifting to Park before the car stops can damage the parking mechanism, causing unintended movement. This could lead to crashes if the parking brake isn't applied. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/1227204-kia-soul-ev-2016-recall-unintended-movement-risk.
Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/1227204-kia-soul-ev-2016-recall-unintended-movement-risk · Updated October 5, 2026 · Official notice: NHTSA #20V389000
Cite this page
“Kia Soul EV (2016) recall: Unintended movement risk.” GovInfoNow, updated October 5, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/1227204-kia-soul-ev-2016-recall-unintended-movement-risk. Based on NHTSA recall #20V389000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=20V389000).
Why it’s dangerous
The parking mechanism may become damaged if the driver moves the gear shift lever into Park before the vehicle stops. If damaged, the vehicle can move unexpectedly when in Park and the parking brake isn't engaged, potentially causing a crash.
Who’s affected
Owners of 2015-2016 Kia Soul EV vehicles are affected. Drivers who shift to Park without the vehicle stopping are most at risk.
How to tell if you have this one
Check for 2015-2016 Kia Soul EV models. The recall started August 7, 2020, and applies to vehicles sold in the U.S.
- Brand
Kia- Category
Vehicle
What to do — step by step
Update Software
Kia will update the electronic control unit software for free at dealerships.
Contact Customer Service
Owners can call Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542 to get the recall details.
What NHTSA says to do
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will update the electronic control unit software, free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC191.
How this recall unfolded
Recall timeline
2 dated steps over 6 months.
- NHTSA received the defect report
- Recall began
Dates from the agency record only; steps without a date are left out.
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Where this comes from
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official NHTSA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
- Official source: NHTSA Recall #20V389000 (February 7, 2020)
- Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on October 5, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the NHTSA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
- GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official NHTSA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.